| Coldplay – Viva la Vida Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I agree with those who say it is about Nero. I'll explain why, and if it makes sense to you, fantastic. "I used to rule the world, seas would rise when I gave the word" At the time he was the youngest emperor to come to power, as time went on he became very powerful. He tried to have his mother killed by sending her out to sea, with the hopes a shipwreck would kill her. In the end though it just killed her friend and when she returned alive he had her killed anyway. He also sent explorers to the Nile River, the first trip of its kind to Africa in history. "Now in the morning I sleep alone, Sweep the streets I used to own" He was going to flee for safety, but after learning no one would help him he returned to Rome to his palace. He woke up in the middle of the night to find his palace empty, everyone had abandoned him. Presumably to be left to be killed, as was a big thing back then if you search through the history. He ended up fleeing with a freedman to his villa in disguise, and shortly later killed himself. "I used to roll the dice, Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes. Listen as the crowd would sing, 'Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!'" He was always concerned with remaining popular among the people, especially the poor. To a fault his advisors felt, it seemed like he was solely motivated with being a crowd pleaser. "One minute I held the key, Next the walls were closed on me. And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand." Again, he was always trying to keep the support of the people and suddenly it seemed like public opinion changed. He was no longer the powerful man he had been. This next part is what seals the deal with me about it being Nero. " hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing, Roman Cavalry choirs are singing. Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field." and also the part where he sings, "For some reason I can't explain, I know St Peter wont call my name" He died during Romes invasion of Jerusalem. There is some belief held that Nero had gone to Jerusalem and asked a child about a verse he learned and after hearing it, was convinced that God wanted the Temple of Jerusalem to be destroyed, yet would punish the person who did it. So he converted to Judaism hoping to be spared. No real proof to back this up. However he did in fact send soldiers to Jerusalem, they breached the walls. He knows St Peter wont call his name, because he ordered him to be killed. This is what I think. Many people throughout history could fit this scheme however. How many times have we seen someone become drunk with power? Everyone comes down eventually. Could be allegory about abuse of power in general. Or how quickly things can change. Powerful one day, nothing the next. Hell, could even go so far as the person isn't even "bad". How many leaders 'lie' for the good of the people? But I think when the song was written, he was thinking of Nero. A great song however can mean many different things. |
|
| Tom Waits – 16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought-Six Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I could be completely wrong, but this is how I interpret the song. A crow means many things in different cultures but one I am familiar with is that it brings a sense of foreboding, something bad is going to happen. So I take it that the crow is actually symbolism, he knows something is about to go down. With all the references to guitars I imagine that is really what the "16 shells from a thirty-ought-six" is referring to. Imagine carrying a rifle and holding a guitar. I think that what is really going on is something along the lines of the "Crossroads", selling your soul to be able to play. The more he gets into it the deeper he gets, and the crow is his sign that something is going on but instead of preventing it or doing something to change it he just traps this feeling in what he plays. The "whittle into kindlin" is using the impending eruption to fuel his music. Its torture when he hears what he plays, hence the "banging on the strings just to drive him crazy", and trapping this crow in the guitar, in what he creates musically. I could be completely off the mark, but that is how I take the song, and I love a song that can be listened to by a thousand different people and be taken a thousand different ways. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.